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First Families of Pennsylvania

I finally have time for my own research and have decided to work on First Families of Pennsylvania through the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (GSP).  My initial family was Sarah Shoemaker who arrived in Philadelphia in 1686 and purchased 200 acres.  Her husband, George had died on the way over from Germany or before she had left so it was that she landed in Philadelphia with seven children.

From further research, we know that Sarah’s son, George married Sarah Wall, whose family was already here in 1682.  I will work on the Wall/Waln family for my supplement to First Families of PA.  There is an abundance written about the Wall’s, but I haven’t found EVERYTHING, so if you are researching the Shoemaker/Wall connection and have some records not available on line, I would love to have a copy.

The next families will be the Richardson and Levering families.  It is a challenge to get them listed in the oldest division of First Families –  Colony and Commonwealth: 1638–1790, but how fun to see how much information is available from that time period at GSP and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, both in Philadelphia.

Happy hunting to those who try.

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The Welcome Society of Philadelphia Pennsylvania and the Shoemaker Family

I haven’t written in a while about the Shoemaker’s, but thought I would give a little update.  I had been working on a Welcome Society application for two  clients when I realized that I was eligible.  That has led me to a quest of completing the application for my ancestor.  It has been a long time coming, but I think I now have it all sorted out that George Shoemaker, who married Sarah Wall is my eligiblity.  Sarah arrived in Philadelphia in 1682 with her father and grandfather, Richard Jr. and Sr. Wall.  Richard Jr. died and Sarah was the only child to survive to inherit her grandfather’s land and home.

The home Sarah inherited is still standing in all it’s glory in Elkins Park, PA.  It is owned by Cheltenham Township and may be visited on the 4th Sunday from 1-4 pm.  I happened to be there on an off day, but got a sneak peak of the inside.  How wonderful to still have this historic home of our family available for viewing and being preserved.  They have a cd available at their gift shop or visit their website.  http://www.cheltenhamtownship.org/pview.aspx?id=3593&catid=26.

For those interested in The Welcome Society, it is an organization of descendants of those who came on William Penn’s twenty three ships in 1682.  If you can prove your descent, this is a very interesting organization.  A very helpful article was written about the ships by Marion Balderston, William Penn’s Twenty-Tree Ships with N0tes on Some of Their Passengers.  This may be found in Passengers and Ships Prior to 1684, Vol. 1 of Penn’s Colony, by Walter Lee Sheppard, Jr.  through Heritage books or from Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

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White Family Reunion July 23, 2016

Reservations are starting to arrive for the July 23rd White Family reunion.  If you know someone who isn’t on my mailing or emailing list, please share the information.  We would love to have as many of Alex and Mary Ella’s children represented as possible.

White Reunion Registration Form 2016

There is a block of rooms at the Comfort Inn Lancaster – Rockvale Outlets, 24 S. Willowdale Dr. in Lancaster.  You will need to request White Family Reunion rooms.  There may be some confusion since they were formerly Holiday Inn Express, but are now Comfort Inn Lancaster – Rockvale Outlets   877-859-5095 or 717-293-9500.

Also, we are using Perfect Potluck to sign up for what you are bringing.  Distance travelers, if you want to bring something easy like snack foods, let me know if you will need containers and I can provide those.  http://www.perfectpotluck.com

The group for Perfect Potluck is Hershey, password 1203.

Hope to see you there.

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Alex and Mary Ella White Reunion Registration Form 2016

White Reunion Registration Form 2016

We have the place, time, food and now we need you — to fill in the attached form so we know you are coming to the Alexander and Mary Ella (Hess) White family reunion July 23, 2016 at Paradise Park, Paradise, PA.

Meet those cousins you never knew you had.  Bring your photos, histories, and stories to share.  Please share this information with your brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles.

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The Welcome Society Membership in the Works

I recently learned about The Welcome Society while working on an application for a client.  What is this society?  It is an ancestral organization for families who can trace their family to the ships of William Penn.  The Welcome was the first ship and it just so happens, there was a Nicholas Wall/Waln on that ship.  His great granddaughter, Sarah Wall,  married George Shoemaker who came over from Kreigsheim with his mother, Sarah and siblings.  The Shoemaker’s arrived in 1686, but through the Wall’s, that will take me back to 1682.

Of significance is that the Wall House is still standing and owned by Cheltenham Township, Montgomery Co., PA.  The next meeting of The Welcome Society will be meeting there.  Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend, but have already been there.  Very close by is the Shoemaker Burying Ground where Sarah and many of the other Shoemaker’s are buried.  The Wall house is open on Sundays for tours, so google it.

If anyone is interested in joining The Welcome Society, wait a couple of weeks until I get my application approved and you can tie into mine for an easy route to membership.

I also joined First Families of Pennsylvania on Sarah Shoemaker.  She was quite a woman, arriving in Pennsylvania in 1686 with kiddies in tow, bought 200 acres and started a new life.  I hope that is where I get some of my spirit.

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Sara Jane Bell Nebiolo Passing

This has been the Christmas of sad news with numerous friends and relatives passing away. I have one to share.  Sara Jane Bell Nebiolo passed away in August 2015.  She is a cousin on the Bell side of the family and there are far too many already.  I grew up knowing her as Janie Bell and when I moved to Hershey, occasionally visited with her parents, George and Sara Bell who lived in Harrisburg.

Janie and I reconnected and she was coming for a visit, but something came up so she was unable to Hershey at that time.  We have kept in touch occasionally, mostly at Christmas, so was very happy to see Thomas’ name pop up on our TV.  Thomas was calling to let me know about Janie’s passing.  She had a stroke in June and just never recovered.

Please remember Sara Jane, Thomas and son, Ted in your prayers.  And reach out to those who you haven’t been in touch with for a while before they too, join that great triumvirate.

It is better to carry a single flower

To a living friend at any hour

Then to pile roses white and red

Upon their coffin when their dead.

Anonymous

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Alexander Right & Mary Ella (Hess) White Family Reunion 2016

It’s that time again to gather the troops.  I have set up the date for the Alexander Right and Mary Ella (Hess) White families to gather July 23, 2016 at Paradise Park, Paradise, PA.  It is just off Route 30. Pavilion #2.  Further details will be coming in the New Year.

Please mark your calendars so you can be plan to be there.

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Romaine Roberts Memorial October 31, 2015

It was a wonderful celebration of Romaine Myers Roberts life at the Glenvale Church of God this past Saturday (Oct. 31, 2015) as she was laid to rest.  The children of Romaine and Jim Roberts offered memories that made you smile and shed a tear.

Romaine and Jim were married 66 years and as long as I’ve known them, were residents of Kings Highway in Marysville, PA.  It is another wonderful wife, mother, grandmother gone  now.

For the White’s who don’t know Jim and Romaine, Jim is descended from James McMaster White, whose daughter, Sarah White married a Roberts.  Jim took care of the Gailey-White Cemetery along with Harold Branyan for many years.  Many of the older generations of Roberts are also buried there.

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Thomas White, Revolutionary War Patriot

Some time ago Cousin Mark Myers was in to PA for a visit and asked if we had any White’s who fought in the Revolutionary War.  I answered that I thought they came to late, but then questioned if I ever looked.  I set out to look for an ancestor and with little effort found Thomas White.  Actually, Thomas was not a soldier, but pay the Pennsylvania Supply Tax that helped fund the war.  So Mark,  yes we do have an ancestor that makes you eligible for Sons of the American Revolution or Sons of the Revolution.  Two separate organizations.

Well, it finally was approved.  My two submissions for Revolutionary War Patriot, Thomas White, was approved adding two more bars to my NSDAR chest of pins.  Because Thomas’ great grandchildren married, I can apply for two lines for the same patriot.  I recently was approved for a second line of Adam Shafer.

So, all of you White’s who want to join NSDAR, I have paved the way for this line.  Just let me know if you are interested in joining the Daughters of the American Revolution and I can help with your application.

While I’m on the subject of White Descendants, we will be having a White Reunion next July 2016.  I am looking for a place to hold the picnic, but hope to have a Lancaster County, PA site soon.  So stand by and keep checking my blog.  With this much lead time, I’m hoping the Westcoast cousins will try to make it in for the occasion.

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Meg Ellen Spencer Memorial Service

Last week I attended a lovely memorial service for Meg Ellen Spencer, who died suddenly in an auto accident.  I only remember meeting her once or twice at a family reunion, but learned a lot about her from family, friends and colleagues at the service.

Meg was a librarian at the Cornell Science Library at Swarthmore College and headed many programs for the school.  An avid reader, she shared a love of books of all catagories, with everyone.

Meg was 55 years old and is survived by brother, Lon of England; sisters, Amy  and Anne.  Her father, Earl passed away last year.

Lots of White/Spencer family attended the service and stayed for cupcakes afterwards, so I was able to catch up with the cousins.  We have decided to hold another White Family reunion next July, 2016 so stand by for further details.